A Wager

Not long after Tsunade returned to Konoha, rumors spread through the village that she, one of the Sannin, was looking for a student. However, anyone who wanted to become her student had to pass three tests.

For the month after the news got around, many of Konoha's ninjas tried their luck at the tests, but no one managed to meet her requirements.

Word of Tsunade's search for a student had caused a huge stir in the village, and Yusuke, who was in Konoha, had of course heard about it.

In Yusuke's view, Tsunade's search for a student was most likely connected to Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's injuries. After all, Tsunade had returned to the village to check on the Fourth Hokage's condition.

The ninjas who had failed the tests shared some details about them, and Yusuke could tell Tsunade was looking for someone with exceptional talent in Chakra control.

Once he had learned all this, Yusuke's lips curled into a slight smile. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

At the Hokage Office, in the Third Hokage's office.

"How is it? Have you found a suitable candidate yet?" The Third Hokage furrowed his brow and asked Kakashi, who stood beside him.

Kakashi shook his head. "Lady Tsunade's tests are extremely difficult. I tried them myself, but I couldn't control my Chakra to the level she requires."

The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment, then turned to Tsunade. "Could you lower your standards a little?"

"Impossible. Treating Minato leaves no room for the slightest mistake. If a candidate can't meet my requirements, they'll only end up killing him!" Tsunade said firmly.

"To be honest, I never had much hope to begin with. Shizune is the most promising child with a talent for Medical Ninjutsu I've seen in all these years, but even she is nowhere near meeting the requirements for this technique. I never expected you to find someone suitable in such a short time."

Worried about his teacher, Kakashi stepped forward, knelt, and bowed low as he pleaded, "Lady Tsunade, you're the only one who can save my teacher. If there's no suitable candidate, I beg you to stay in Konoha and treat him."

Too many of Kakashi's loved ones and friends had left him. He simply couldn't bear to watch his teacher lie helplessly in bed like a vegetable.

Tsunade sighed, but she had always done things her own way. Kakashi's plea wouldn't make her change her mind. "I'm sorry, but I can't grant your request."

"Since there's no suitable candidate, I'm leaving the village today. I've left you the testing methods. If you find someone who can pass, you can contact me at any time. I'll teach them how to treat him."

Just as Kakashi was losing hope, a ninja assigned to deliver messages knocked on the door. "Third Hokage, I have good news!"

"Come in," the Third Hokage told him.

The messenger opened the door and entered, followed by a white-haired boy of about eight or nine, with delicate features. The boy was Yusuke's student, Kabuto.

"Third Hokage, this boy has just passed all the tests Lady Tsunade set! I brought him here right away to meet you and Lady Tsunade," the messenger said.

Tsunade was astonished that anyone had actually passed her tests, especially a young boy. At the same time, she grew interested in him. If he truly had such exceptional talent, taking him on as her student would be a good thing.

Tsunade immediately called Kabuto over and tested him herself. She found that his Chakra control was far beyond ordinary—so much so that he even surpassed her.

The discovery filled Tsunade with delight. She was about to ask whether Kabuto would become her student when Kakashi's words from beside her doused her excitement like a bucket of cold water.

"Kabuto, aren't you Yusuke's student?" Kakashi asked in puzzlement, having already gotten to his feet.

When Kakashi heard that someone had met Tsunade's requirements, he had been overjoyed. But when he saw that it was Kabuto, he was taken aback.

"That's right. My teacher asked me to try Lady Tsunade's tests, to see how good my Chakra control was," Kabuto replied.

When he had first entered the office and seen the Third Hokage and Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, he had been a little nervous. But his unusually steady nature soon helped him regain his composure, and he stood there calmly and confidently.

Is this beautiful older sister really one of the legendary Sannin? I didn't expect her to be so young! Looking at Tsunade, who seemed like a girl, Kabuto couldn't help thinking. Her appearance had clearly fooled him.

Tsunade was actually already in her forties, but the Yin Seal kept her youthful and regulated her body's functions, allowing her to maintain a girlish appearance.

At Kabuto's answer, Tsunade frowned. "So you're already someone else's student?"

"That's right. My teacher is Uchiha Yusuke," Kabuto said with a nod.

At the words "Uchiha," Tsunade instinctively frowned. As a member of the Senju Clan, she didn't have a good impression of the Uchiha Clan. But she wasn't as openly hostile toward them as her granduncle, Senju Tobirama, or Danzo.

"Uchiha Yusuke... That name sounds a little familiar," Tsunade murmured.

"Uchiha Yusuke is a jonin in the village. His nickname is 'Flame Tachi,' and he's now hailed as the strongest Uchiha. He's a very capable ninja," Kakashi explained.

Tsunade nodded. "So it's him. Then I'll go see him in person."

Tsunade had already decided she wanted Kabuto as her student. Now that she knew he was Yusuke's student, she decided to talk with Yusuke and see if she could persuade him to let her have Kabuto.

"Lady Tsunade, if Kabuto can't become your student—"

Before Kakashi could finish, Tsunade understood what he meant and cut him off. "Don't worry about that. Either way, I can teach him how to treat Minato."

Kakashi and the Third Hokage both felt relieved. Tsunade was the decisive sort, so she immediately took Kabuto to the Uchiha Clan's compound to find Yusuke. Kakashi and Tsunade's student, Shizune, went with them as well, unable to put their minds at ease.

At the Uchiha Clan's compound, Yusuke was instructing Itachi in ninjutsu while Izumi watched from the side.

"Ninjutsu: Fire Illusion Crow Technique."

Itachi swiftly formed Hand Seals, and his body transformed into a Crow Clone that possessed both fire and illusion attributes.

Seeing that Itachi had mastered his signature technique so quickly, Yusuke nodded in satisfaction. He had developed it by adapting Itachi's Crow Clone technique, so it was only natural that Itachi had learned it with ease.

Izumi also thought the technique looked very cool, but she had no talent for illusions. Even after trying many times, she still couldn't grasp how to use it.

Just then, they spotted Tsunade and the others approaching from a distance, so they stopped practicing.

"You're Uchiha Yusuke?" Tsunade asked, looking at the boy before her, who was only fifteen or sixteen.

On the way over, Kakashi had told her some of Yusuke's accomplishments. She had been especially surprised to hear about his battle with Shisui.

Judging by what Kakashi had told her, the Uchiha prodigy she had heard so much about was already a fighter on par with herself.

Tsunade trusted Kakashi's judgment and didn't think he would exaggerate Yusuke's abilities.

As Tsunade studied Yusuke, he was studying her as well.

This wasn't the first time he had seen Tsunade, but they had never interacted before.

Tsunade truly was one of the most vividly portrayed female characters in the original Naruto story: beautiful, powerful, and strong-willed. She wasn't perfect, but no one could deny her charm.

Tsunade was wearing a short women's kimono, her long blond hair tied into two braids at the back. Her features were delicate, and a blue diamond-shaped mark sat between her brows. Around her slender neck hung the necklace left behind by the First.

Yusuke's first impression of Tsunade was that she was imposing.

Indeed, as the princess of the Senju Clan, Tsunade had none of the coyness often associated with women. Instead, she had a presence that rivaled a man's. It didn't diminish her charm at all; if anything, it gave her an indescribable, heroic bearing.

"So it's Lady Tsunade. What brings you to the Uchiha Clan's compound?" Yusuke asked with a smile.

Though he asked, Yusuke already knew why Tsunade had come. It was exactly why he had sent Kabuto to take her tests!

"Your student Kabuto is very talented. I'd like to take him on as my student," Tsunade said bluntly, looking straight at Yusuke. That was simply how she was: she spoke her mind and never beat around the bush.

Yusuke chuckled to himself at Tsunade's words, though he put on a troubled expression. "I think very highly of Kabuto too. To be honest, Lady Tsunade, he has an extraordinary talent for ninjutsu and is a valuable assistant in developing new techniques."

Tsunade frowned. "There are plenty of ninjutsu prodigies, but I still haven't found anyone who can inherit my Medical Ninjutsu."

"I don't like forcing anyone, but I can't bear to give up on a talent like Kabuto. If you'll let him become my student, you can name your terms."

Kabuto looked at Yusuke with concern. If it were up to him, he wouldn't want to leave Yusuke and become someone else's student.

Yusuke seemed to mull it over, his expression troubled. After a moment, he appeared to make up his mind. "I understand where you're coming from, Lady Tsunade. But from my perspective, I don't want to lose such an outstanding student either."

"How about this? Let's make a wager and leave the outcome to fate!"

"If I lose, Kabuto will become your student, Lady Tsunade. But if you lose, I have a small request I hope you'll agree to!"

As always, thanks for your support!

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